Netflix Launches "Watch Now" Downloads

[Wondermonkey]

Netflix has launched a new feature called Watch Now that will enable subscribers, at no additional cost, to watch movies immediately on Netflix.com. The new service does not limit the number of movies a customer can watch, instead it gives users 1 hour of video for every $1 they spend monthly (18 hours of online video is free with the $17.99 plan). Customers can watch 5 minutes of a movie, decide that they don't like it, and switch to another without penalty (many online movie rental options require watching a movie within a certain time period, such as 24 hours or 14 days, or the movie will have to be re-rented at additional cost).

Unfortunately, the Watch Now feature will only be available to a few customers at this time, and it will be rolled out to all customers over the next six months.

The first thing you'll notice is a new tab: Watch Now.



The Watch Now page gives you access to the movies available for online viewing.

Netflix recommends movies, shows you movies you've recently viewed (handy if you've only watched part of one), and also shows you movies that you can watch from your queue.

Netflix tests your Internet connection, and varies the quality of the video depending on your connection. If you have a slow connection, the start of the movie may be delayed and the quality of the movie will be less than DVD (but still very watchable). If you have a 1.6 Mbps or greater connection, the movie should approach DVD quality. I have a 6 Mbps DSL connection, but Netflix was unable to resolve the speed issue before this story went to press.



The first time you watch a movie Netflix will install the Netflix Movie Player, which only takes a few minutes. Movies are viewed in the browser, like YouTube, instead of in a separate player like Amazon's Unbox.

The Netflix Movie Player was developed in-house, and very closely resembles the Netflix Previews feature. From the time you click play on a movie to when the movie starts is as fast as 10 seconds. I have another quirk where it asks to acquire the rights to the movie, but it works after clicking "Play."

When you're browsing through movies that are part of the Watch Now feature, you will see a Play button under the movie box.

Netflix keeps track of how long you've watched each movie, and you can view your available time via Your Account:

[KEEZY]

That is a cool feature... especially at no extra cost!

[Peench]

Freaking awesome! Thanks for the heads up! I'm a Netflix convert. I love it!

[BrewCityUpstart]

[CamDawg]

I saw an article on this yesterday -- this is a good example of a company adding a useful extra value at no cost. to Netflix.

[Jon Liu]

As many movies as I watch, I've never cued up Netflix!!!

This is a great addition, though!!

[Wondermonkey]

I swear by Netflix and I wouldn't use any other service. I toyed with the idea of trying out Blockbuster Online, but they edit movies and don't carry a lot of NC-17 & Unrated titles, so I can't really support a company that does that.

Netflix rocks, and this just makes them rock even more so.

Do any Netflix users have this feature available to them yet? They said they'd roll it out to everyone over the next six months. I've been a member since 2002 and don't have the feature yet, so I wonder what their system is like.

[Serren]

I thought that Blockbuster stopped editing movies a few years ago? I HAVE rented NC-17 movies at the local store. Not sure about online though.

I have an old Blockbuster Online plan, which is $8.99 a month, and that gives me one movie at a time. The cool new feature is that I can take the movie back to the store in person and swap it for another movie OR now, a GAME. This is a cool. And as soon as you return the movie in the store, they then ship out your next movie on your list.

Ive had both services, and they are both nice. I like taking the movie in and either getting a game or letting my daugher get a movie after I return mine. Which have recently been my wifes MST3K episodes!!!! Ugh....

[Wondermonkey]

Originally Posted by Serren

I thought that Blockbuster stopped editing movies a few years ago? I HAVE rented NC-17 movies at the local store. Not sure about online though.

They do have them both in store and online from what I've seen, but for the most part, they are "classics" like Henry & June & Last Tango in Paris. I haven't been to a brick and mortar Blockbuster since 1999 though, so I don't know what they are carrying now. The fact that they buckled under pressure from the Christian led American Family Association earned them a boycott from me. Just like Walmart. But that doesn't matter.

The fact that you can return a movie to the store AND they ship out your next movie though is AWESOME. That's a terrific feature that I wish Netflix could match, but that would force me to drive somehwere. Nuts to that.

[Fragmintz]

Wow - kudos to Netflix. Maybe I will convert from Blockbuster, which I find to be a bit of a pain in the arse. You know how they put "an end to late fees?" Well now they have what is called a "restocking fee". Basically if you keep a movie longer than the allotted date, you own it and they charge you the retail price of it until you return it. Once you return it, they refund your account, minus a "restocking fee". Even though it is only $2 it is still a clever way of collecting on people while still touting that you don't charge late fees. Shady Blockbuster.

[Serren]

I think Blockbuster compromised, err, sold out by renting out BOTH NC-17 and R versions on some movies. But that could be the studios releasing two versions also though perhaps?

Here are the NC-17's available online with Blockbuster since 2000 -
The Girl Next Door
Trois
Absolution
Moonlight by the Sea
The Dreamers
A Dirty Shame
Bad Education
Girls Bravo (Anime)
Inside Deep Throat
Mysterious Skin
Throg
Secretaries
The B. Coming of Beanie Sigel

Not sure how many others came out that they opted out of or even how many NC-17s come out since then.

[Peench]

It hasn't shown up in my account yet. Perhaps because I'm so new.

[Wondermonkey]

Originally Posted by Peench

It hasn't shown up in my account yet. Perhaps because I'm so new.

I don't know, I've been a member since 2002 and I still don't have it. I think it's random.